John edson wolfe



(Na Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. E. WOLFE. RAILROAD SWITCH.

Patented Oct. 1, 1889.

JOHN EDSON W'OLFE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

RA] LROAD-SWITCH SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Yatent No. 412,008, dated October 1, 1889. Application filed December 14, 1888, Serial No 293,591. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that LJOHN EDSON WOLFE, ot the city, county, and State of NewYor have invented a new and linp x ed Railroad- Switch, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved automatic railroad-switch, especially intended for surface railroads and [or a combination of horse and cable roads.

The invention consists of a pivoted switchrail operated and alternately controlled by a short rail in the main track and by a platform at the side of the track.

The invention also consists of certain parts and details and combinations of the same, as will be hereinafter fully described, and then pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this .pecification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the improvement as applied. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of the section-rail and adjacent parts on the line a: a; of Fig. 1. Fig. at is a transverse section of the improvement on the line y y of Fig. 1, and Fig. 5 is a like view of the same on the line 2 z of Fig. l. V

The invention is specially intended for a combination surface cable road and horse road-that is, the main track A preferably constitutes a cable road, and from it branches the side track over which the horse-car is to pass. The main line A is provided with the usual cable in the center and other devices, and with the main-track rails B and G, of which the former is continuous, and in the latter is placed a switch-rail D, pivoted at D, and adapted to connect the rail 0 with the side-track rail E, operating in conjunction with the side-track rail F, forming the side track. The side-track rail F branches from the continuous rail B. From the under side of the switch-rail D extends a pin G, engaging a horizontally-extending rod ll, pivotally connected at its outer end with an arm. I, fastened on a shaft J, mounted to turn in suitable bearings arrangedat fihcsideof the track and carrying an upwardlyextending arm K, curved and forked at its upper end, as is plainly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. On the curved forked upper end of the arm K rests the platform L, mounted in a suitable casting N, placed alongside the track. The other end of the horizontally-extrasdin g rod ll is pivotally connected with an arm 0, fastened on a shaft P, mounted to turn in suitable bearings below the main track A. The shaft P extends a suitable distance from the switch-rail .l)- say from twenty to thirty feet-and carries at its outer end an arm Q, extending sidewise under the main-track rail G and engaging the under side of the short rail R, forming part of the main-track rail 0. The short rail R is pivoted at S to the main-track rail 0, and is provided with bases T, inclined to the top of the short rail R in such a manner as to be level with the base of the main rail 0 when the short rail R is in an uppermost position, as shown in Fig. 3. \Vhen the short rail R is in its lowermost position, the top of the short rail is in line with the top of the maintraclc rail 0, so that the latter is continuous at this junction.

On the inside of the short rail R is placed a guard-rail U to prevent theshort all It from being depressed by wagons passing transversely across the main track A at this point. The base T of the short rail R permits of ordinary wagons traveling on the main track A without depressing theshort rail R.

The operation is as follows: When the short rail R. is in its uppermost position, as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the switch-rail D connects lnain rail A with the side trackthat is, the switch-rail connects the niai n-track rail 0 with the side track rail E. A cable car now coming in the direction of the arrow a passes over the short rail R,so that the latter is depressed, and this downward swinging motion of the short rail causes a downward swinging motion of the arm Q and a turning of the shaft P, so that the arm 0 on the latter swings outward, moving the rod II in the direction of the arrow i). As the rod H is connected by the pin G with the switchrail D, the latter swings outward, and disconnects the sidetrack railE from tlieinaintrack rail 0, which latter again becomes continuous. The oable-oar by passing over the short rail automatically shifts the switchrail D before it arri ves at the switch, so that the cable-car passes forward on the main track A. The movement of the rod H in the direction of the arrow 12' also causes a turning of the shaft J, so that the curved arm K swings upward and lifts the platform L above its casing N. Any number of cable-cars passing in the direction of the arrow a will not disturb the switch-rail D; but when a horseoar comes along the track A in the direction of the arrow a and desires to pass to the sidetrack rails E and F, then the driver causes" the animal drawing the car to step on the platform L, so that the latter is depressed, and consequently moves the arm K downward so as to turn the shaft J. The movement of the shaft J causes an inward swinging of the arm I, and a movement of the rod H in the inverse direction of the arrow 1), so that the pin G, connecting said rod H with the switch D, shifts the latter to the position shown in Fig; 1. The main track A is thus connect J11 ...rit.. the side track and the horsecar passes on from the rails BandO onto the side rails E and F. The downward motion of the platform L causes a turning of the shaft 1, so that its arm Q, swings upward and again causes an upwardly-swinging motion of the short rail It, so that if the next car is a cable-car the rail will be depressed and cause a shifting of the switch-rail D, as above de scribed. Thus it will be seen that the switchrail D is actuated and automatically controlled alternately from the platform Ti and. the short rail it.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as newand desire to secure loyLetters Patent- 1. A railroad-switch comprising a pivoted switch-rail, a short rail located in and forming a part of the main track, and a platform 10- cated alongside the main track, said platform and the said short rail operating and controlling the said switch rail, substantially as shown and described.

2. A railroad-switch comprising a pivoted switch-rail located between the main and side rails, a short rail pivoted in and forming a part of the main-track rail and connected with the said switch, and a platform held alongside the track, and also connected with the said switch-rail and the said short rail, substantially as shown and described.

In a railroad-switch, the combination, with a switch-rail pivoted between the main and side rails, of a rod connected with the said switch-rail, a shaft having an arm pivotally connected with the said rod, a curved arm held onthe said shaft, and a short rail pivoted in one of the rails of the main track and resting at its free end on the said curved arm, substantially as shown and described.

4. In a railroad-switch, the combination, with a switch-rail pivoted between the main and side rails, of a rod connected with the said switch-rail, a shaft having an armpivotally connected with the said red, a curved arm held on the said shaft, a shorhrail pivoted. in one of the rails of the main track and resting at its free end on the said curved arm, a second shaft having an arm pivotall y commuted with'the said rod, a curved and forked arm fastened on the said second shaft, and ap'lat form supported. on the said curved. and forked arm, substantially as shown and described.

5. In a railroad-switcli, a short rail pivoted on one of the rails of tllemain. track and provided with a base inclined to the head of the rail, substantially as shown and described.

.I'OllN EDSON 'WOTJ" l Witnesses:

Tune. G. ll'os'rnn, EDGAR 'lhvrn. 

